Melges Reunion Returns to Lake Garda with 30-Boat Fleet Ahead of Europeans

Fraglia Vela Riva on Garda Lake, Italy, once again becomes the home of the Melges Reunion this weekend, hosting–together with the Italian Melges 24 Class and the International Melges 24 Class Association–the seventh event of the 2026 Melges 24 European Sailing Series. The regatta also serves as the 2026 Italian Melges 24 National Championship and the second event of the Gaudì Trophy, created in memory of longtime Melges sailor Gaudenzio Bonini, who raced aboard Altea. Sharing the spotlight will be the European debut of the Melges 15 class.

With the Italian Championship, the Melges 15 European debut and one final opportunity to fine-tune before the 2026 Melges 24 European Championship in Tønsberg, Norway, the event has attracted an outstanding fleet of 30 Melges 24s–worthy of any major international championship.

Although smaller in numbers, the Melges 15 fleet marks an important milestone with its first European appearance. Designed by Reichel/Pugh and launched in 2020, the high-performance two-person dinghy combines the speed of a modern skiff with the stability of a scow hull. The class has quickly flourished across North America, where more than 100 boats regularly compete in the Florida Winter Series, while growing fleets have also emerged in Mexico, Chile and Canada. The European launch is being led by Melges Performance Sailboats, represented in Riva del Garda by owners Cate Muller-Terhune and Allan Terhune Jr.

Among the Melges 24 international entries are two American teams. Michael Goldfarb’s WarCanoe returns to competition in memory of its recently departed team manager and beloved class personality Bill “Billy” Goldsberry, while John Poulson’s LongShot arrives as the current leader of the Melges 24 North American Sailing Series Corinthian standings. It's also great to see the Canadian team Eurosurprise by Dan Berezin among the entries, continuing the European campaign on the road to the Tønsberg Europeans.

Europe’s leading contenders are equally well represented. Former European Champions Strambapapà, sailed by Michele Paoletti and Giovanna Micol, return alongside Paolo Brescia’s Melgina, currently ninth in the European Sailing Series standings.

After six events, Norwegian teams occupy the top three places in the Melges 24 European Sailing Series. Corinthian leader Storm Capital (Peder Jahre) heads the standings ahead of Blow (Peder Nergaard) and Helly Hansen II Lisa (Kristoffer Spone), reflecting Norway’s exceptional participation at both the Norwegian National Championship and the Nordic Championship, whose large fleets earned enhanced weighting within the Series ranking.

2026 Melges 24 European Sailing Series ranking after six events

Also returning are former Melges 24 World and European Champions Altea, with Andrea Racchelli and Nigel Young aboard, together with Croatia’s Karlo Kuret helming reigning European Champion Łukasz Podniesiński’s Razjaren, and Panjić, led by Croatian Class President Luka Sangulin with Tomislav Bašić calling tactics.

The depth of the fleet continues with strong Corinthian teams: Britain’s Miles Quinton’s Zhik Race Team, crowned 2025 Corinthian World Champions in Trieste with Geoff Carveth steering; Hungary’s Chinook of Ákos Csoltó, another leading Corinthian contender; and Germany’s White Room, campaigned by the Tarabochia family.

The Melges 15 fleet also promises plenty of excitement, with several internationally renowned sailors expected to make the European premiere of the new design even more compelling.

For many of the leading Melges 24 teams, Riva del Garda represents the final opportunity to benchmark their speed against the world’s best before attention turns to the 2026 Melges 24 European Championship in Tønsberg at the end of August. With many of the championship favourites competing this weekend, the Italian Championship is expected to provide one of the clearest indications yet of the form heading into the continental title race.

Racing begins on Friday, with the first warning signal scheduled for 1300 hours, and continues through Sunday on two separate race courses. Competitors will also enjoy a full social programme, highlighted by the traditional Melges Reunion Party, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, at La Spiaggia degli Olivi, adjacent to the Fraglia Vela Riva clubhouse.

“Few sights in sailing are more dynamic than a one-design fleet charging off the starting line or rounding a mark together, and Melges has always represented the very best expression of that spirit,” said Fraglia Vela Riva President Chiara Carloni. “We are always delighted to welcome the Melges 24 class back to our club, where it has become a regular and much-appreciated presence over the years. At the same time, we are proud to host the European debut of the Melges 15 and are confident that Lake Garda will become one of the class’s reference venues in Europe.